Judo in Detroit: Saito Noburu Sensei

Whoops, typo in his name. Should be Noboru.

Just moved to Detroit and searching for a Judo Club. I found one close to where I live, at the Birmingham YMCA. It's run by Noburu Satio Sensei. Was just wondering if anybody knew anything about him and if it's a good place to train?

Someone I ran into said he was an Olympic coach or ref or something. I found his website, where he says he's a 6th Dan in "Hakuryu Karate" and 7th Dan Judo.

I'm not sure what Hakuryu Karate is, though. I know what Hakko ryu Jujutsu is. But most links on Hako ryu Karate bring me to Saito's website. So I'm thinking it's some derivative form of Karate from Wado ryu or Shotokan or something.

His website is out of date, he was promoted to hachidan a few years ago. Saito is the man in Detroit by all accounts. I have no idea about the karate grade, but as he is the real deal in judo I can't imagine that he would fake his karate credentials.

BTW every thread I found on judoforum inquiring about Saito-sensei had real short replies, all to the effect of "stop looking, if you are anywhere close to Detroit go train with him"

Mr. Saito is superb, you should attend his classes. He is an IJF A referee who has reffed at Olympics and WC, is an expert on judo kata, the list goes on and on.
I think he is also a dan grade in some form of karate as well.

He's the real deal.

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